"Riveting...a fascinating view of crime, punishment, morality and parenting in today's Britain."  Sunday Times

As riots tore across England in August 2011, Prime Minister David Cameron blamed "a lack of proper parenting" for the anarchy on the streets. This simple film reveals a much more disturbing and complex picture: the parents of "rioting" children sit down to be interviewed, side by side with their kids if possible, to talk about what happened, and why. The result is a powerful insight into the domestic background to England's riots.

Nominated for the Grierson Award for Best Documentary on a Contemporary Issue

Watch the full film below.

PRESS

"The best TV journalism on the riots so far..... My Child the Rioter made you think so hard about a well-covered subject that you changed your mind several times even while watching." Andrew Billen, The Times

" Riveting... Here is a fascinating view of crime, punishment, morality and parenting in today's Britain - complex areas simply illuminated".  Martin James, Sunday Times

"Devastatingly straightforward" The Guardian

"An outstanding documentary.... Instead of taking the usual shrill, censorious line, Olly Lambert's film was carefully understated and more puzzled than anything else." John Porter, Sunday Telegraph

"Excellent" Deborah Orr, The Guardian

"Brilliant... As always the truth is rather less black and white than the Prime Minister imagined." The Times

"Excellent.... You'd have to be absolutely blameless yourself as a parent to confidently announce that it was adult delinquency alone that had produced this result. I couldn't manage the necessary self-righteousness." Tom Sutcliffe, Independent on Sunday

CREDITS

Film Editor: John Mister

Composer: Mat Davidson

Camera: Will Edwards, Johann Perry, Jon Sayers

Sound: Chris Gibbions, Tony Burke, Malcolm Hirst

Assistant Producers: Maria Atherton, Batsheva Lazarus

Co-Producer: Chloe Fairweather 

Series Editor: Nick Mirsky

Producer / Director: Olly Lambert